Begonia plant named &#39;KRBELSS01&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Begonia  plant named ‘KRBELSS01’ characterized by its upright to broadly spreading and uniformly mounded plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely basal branching habit; showy leaves with black and greyed purple-colored centers surrounded by green to greyed green-colored splotches and spots with greyed purple-colored margins; and excellent postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Begonia hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘KRBELSS01’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Begonia plant, botanically known as Begonia hybrida, commercially referred to as a Rex Begonia and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘KRBELSS01’.

The new Begonia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Ermelo, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new Rex Begonia plants with unique and attractive leaf coloration.

The new Begonia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in Ermelo, The Netherlands in January, 2009 of a proprietary selection of Begonia hybrida identified as code number KV07B0399-003, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Begonia hybrida identified as code number KV06B0370-002, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Begonia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Ermelo, The Netherlands in January, 2010. Asexual reproduction of the new Begonia plant by leaf cuttings taken in a controlled greenhouse environment in Ermelo, The Netherlands since February, 2010 has shown that the unique features of this new Begonia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Begonia have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature, daylength and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘KRBELSS01’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘KRBELSS01’ as a new and distinct Begonia plant:

-   -   1. Upright to broadly spreading and uniformly mounded plant         habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely basal branching habit.     -   4. Showy leaves with black and greyed purple-colored centers         surrounded by green to greyed green-colored splotches and spots         with greyed purple-colored margins.     -   5. Excellent postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Begonia differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in leaf color as plants of the female parent selection have green-colored leaves with whitish grey-colored spots.

Plants of the new Begonia differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in leaf color as plants of the male parent selection have green and blackish purple-colored leaves with whitish grey-colored spots.

Plants of the new Begonia can be compared to plants of Begonia hybrida ‘African Jungle’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Begonia differ primarily from plants of ‘African Jungle’ in leaf color as plants of ‘African Jungle’ have green-colored leaves with purplish grey-colored spots. In addition, plants of the new Begonia are more freely basal branching than plants of ‘African Jungle’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Begonia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Begonia plant. The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘KRBELSS01’ grown in a container. The photograph on the second sheet are close up views of the upper (top of the sheet) and lower (bottom of the sheet) surfaces of typical fully expanded leaves of ‘KRBELSS01’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the early autumn in 13-cm containers in a shaded glass-covered greenhouse in Ermelo, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial Rex Begonia production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 20° C. and night temperatures averaged 18° C. Plants were twelve weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Begonia×hiemalis ‘KRBELSS01’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Begonia             hybrida identified as code number KV07B0399-003, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Begonia             hybrida identified as code number KV06B0370-002, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By leaf cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer and winter.—About 20 days at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer and             winter.—About nine weeks at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically white to orange             brown in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on             substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and             formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of             roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density; plants of             the new Begonia have not been observed to form tubers. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant habit and form.—Upright to broadly spreading and             uniformly mounded plant habit; overall plant shape,             flattened globular.         -   Growth habit.—Moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate             growth rate; suitable for 11-cm and larger containers; under             optimal environmental and cultural conditions, usually about             ten weeks are required to produce proportional plants in             13-cm containers from rooted leaf cuttings.         -   Branching habit.—Freely basal branching habit with about 24             primary branches developing per plant.         -   Plant height.—About 21 cm.         -   Plant width.—About 34.2 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 3.1 cm. Diameter: About             9 mm. Internode length: About 7 mm. Strength: Moderately             strong. Aspect: About 10° to 80° from vertical; average,             about 45° from vertical. Texture and luster: Densely             pubescent; moderately glossy. Color, developing: Close to             between N186C and 187A. Color, developed: Close to N186C;             with subsequent development, color becoming closer to             between N186C and 200A.         -   Leaves.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length: About             17.3 cm. Width: About 10.8 cm. Shape: Broadly ovate. Apex:             Apiculate. Base: Oblique, lobes not imbricate. Margin:             Irregularly crenate to serrate; strongly undulate. Texture             and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; velvety;             slightly glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface: Sparsely             pubescent along veins; moderately velvety; slightly rugose;             matte. Venation pattern: Laciniate. Color: Developing             leaves, upper surface: Central area, close to N77B, N77C and             200A; surrounded with close to 193A to 193B; with splotches             and spots, close to 146A, towards the margins; and margins,             close to N186C. Developing leaves, lower surface: Central             area, close to N186C; surrounded with close to 146D; and             margins, close to N186C. Fully expanded leaves, upper             surface: Central area, close to 203B; surrounded with close             to 187B and 187C; towards the margins, splotches and spots,             close to between 141A and 143A, 190A and 190B; margins,             close to 187C; and venation, at the center, close to N186C,             elsewhere, similar to lamina colors. Fully expanded leaves,             lower surface: Central area, close to 183A; surrounded with             close to 147C to 147D; margins, close to 183A; and venation,             close to between 183A and 187B. Petioles: Length: About             5.9 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm. Strength: Low, flexible.             Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Sparsely             pubescent; moderately glossy. Color, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to between 183A and 187A. Stipules: Length:             About 1.6 cm. Width: About 9 mm. Shape: Narrowly ovate.             Apex: Caudate. Base: Broadly cuneate. Margin: Entire.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 53B; towards the margins,             close to 185A to 185B. -   Flower description: Flower initiation and development has not been     observed on plants of the new Begonia. -   Postproduction longevity: Plants of the new Begonia are long-lasting     and will maintain good quality year-round under interiorscape     conditions. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common     to Rex Begonia plants has not been observed on plants of the new     Begonia. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Begonia have been observed     to tolerate high temperatures of about 35° C. and to be suitable for     USDA Hardiness Zones 10 to 12. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Begonia plant named ‘KRBELSS01’ as illustrated and described. 